Graduate education at West Virginia University began in the late 1800s, with the awarding of the first master’s degree in 1899 and the first doctoral degrees in 1932. Over the years, graduate education has grown to become a significant enterprise at WVU, currently awarding approximately 1,500 master’s degrees in 80 fields and 150 doctorates in 42 fields annually. These advanced degrees are awarded for specialized training in the full spectrum of academic programs across West Virginia University and reflect the mastery of knowledge, attainment of technical capabilities, and successful completion of research, scholarship, or other creative endeavors needed for students to advance in their careers or practice in their chosen fields of study.